:-? Calvinism! This is the doctrine that preaches pre destination for an elite. Not very biblical if you ask me. Besides which i have been in many calvinist churches already they are too traditional to interest the younger generations of today that prefer pentecostal type rock shows at their services hymm and old time songs are plain stale and boring for most people below age 60!.
You see people want to feel something emotional not make their religious experince a rationalist chore otherwise why would they bother going to church.
Besides which you are plain wrong calivinist churchs do have dispensationalism as doctrine i ve been to several Baptist churches in Australia which have stronger dispensational doctrines than most other protestant denominations and baptists are calvinists are they not?.:-?

Calvinism does not preach predestination for the "elite." Read the "Institutes of the Christian Religion" by John Calvin, you will be corrected of this idea quickly.

Scripture's testimony is quite contrary to this "elitist" notion. The Bible says that the elect, who are the only ones effectually called, are rarely of the elite class.

Scripture says, "But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are the mighty; and base things of the world, and the things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in His presence" 1 Corinthians 27-29.

The idea that God has chosen, or elected, the elite only is wrong, and it is not Calvinism.

It is true that Calvinism does not propagate the "pentecostal" charismatic ideas of Arminianism so popular today. Calvinism teaches the "Regulated Principal of Worship." That means that any act of worship that is not prescribed by the Bible is not to be engaged in during the worship service. Calvinism also holds to the "Primacy of Preaching." The preaching of God's Word is the center of the worship service, not the Lord's supper, and certainly not the blasphemy called the "mass". Some, it is true, consider Calvinism to be boring, but one must discipline oneself to focus on God's Word. Idleness is a sin. The sheep hear Christ's voice, and they follow Him. The goats do not follow.

Modern day "pentecostal" or "apostolic" type services, such as "speaking in tongues" and fits of emotion are more aligned with Roman Catholicism, not Scripture. It is the Roman Catholic Church that places emphasis upon the emotions and senses, rather than what is written in God's Word. This is why Rome built huge cathedrals with stained glass, huge organs, decorate the insides of their buildings with gold and silver, have enormous chanting choirs, submit themselves to pain and torture, and so forth. This is all in the pursuit of an "emotional religious experience."

Jesus never tells us to seek religious experiences, but rather, Christ commands us to search the Scriptures (John 5:39). People would do well to imitate the Bereans who, "recieved the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so" (Acts 17:11). Also, take a good look at 2 Timothy 3:15-17.

Calvinism teaches that it is Scripture Alone, not Scripture and religious emotional experiences, that is the rule of our life. Again, it is the Jesuits who promote emotional mysticism, not Christianity.

Today, most Baptists are dispensationalists. This is true. But, it is not true that most Baptists today are Calvinistic. First of all, no Baptist is a Calvinist. Calvinism teaches Covenant Baptism. Scripture teaches that the sign of the Covenant of Grace, which is baptism in the New Testament, is to be given to all those born of believing parents. The Bible says, "For the promise is unto you, and to your CHILDREN, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call" Acts 2:39.

Just as the sign of the Covenant of Grace was given to the male children in the Old Testament (circumcision), so now, the sign in the New Testament (baptism) is to be given to the all children of believers. This is why entire house-holds were baptized. Baptism, does not mean that the children are elect, it does mean that they are born to those who profess faith in the Gospel, and therefore, they are obligated to believe as well. However, obligation does not imply ability. This is demonstrated by Esau, who was given the sign of grace in the Old Testament (circumcision), yet he was not elect, but reprobate. After all, not all of Israel is Israel. This is sometimes called "Federal Theology" or "Covenant Theology." Baptists reject covenant theology, and they can not be said to be Calvinists, although they can, and some do, believe in the 5 Solas, and absolute double predestination. Baptists, therefore, can be called Calvinistic, but not Calvinists. Calvinistic baptists, like John Bunyan, John Gill, and Arthur Pink are Christians.

To hear me lecture on Calvinism, then check out my lectures on Google Video. Do a word search for "Calvinism" and you will see an entire list teaching all the basics of Calvinism.

Also, check out my lecture: "9-11 and America's Loss of Freedom", while you are there.

I also have uploaded lectures on "The Danger of Roman Catholic Political Thought."

Thank you for your reply.
Red Beetle

__________________
Scripture Alone is the axiomatic starting point of all Christian thought.
Justification by Faith Alone is the central doctrine within Scripture.

I will be starting a blog on Blogger.com.
The articles I will be posting there will be full size with citations. They will cover a variety of topics, and will stand as a transcript for my upcoming podcast.

Stay tuned for details.
Red Beetle

__________________
Scripture Alone is the axiomatic starting point of all Christian thought.
Justification by Faith Alone is the central doctrine within Scripture.